Oscillating fan heater



Sept. 14, 1948. L. B. GREEN oscnmwme FAN HEATER 2 sheets-sheet 1 FiledJan. 17. 1945 I VINVENTOR. LEE 5. Gees/v 7 BY Y W5 Sept. 14, 1948. L. B.GREEN 2,449,377

OSCILLATING FAN HEATER Fi led Jan. 17, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J5 FIG .5INVENTOR.

I J/ W Patented 14, 1948 OSCILLATING FAN HEATER Lee B. Green, Lakewood,Ohio, assignmto Designers tor Industry, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application January 1'7, 1945, Serial No. 573,219 6Claims. (Cl. 230--264) This invention relates to oscillating electricfans, electric heaters and the like and aims to provide an improvedconstruction affording a more positive and satisfactory control for theoscillating movement of devices of this kind.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improvedoscillating mechanism for an electric fan or the like, embodyingprotective means for preventing damages to the oscillating mechanism inthe event that the device strikes an obstruction during its swingingmovement.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved constructionfor a device of this character, in which the oscillating mechanism ofthe device embodies a releasable drive connection and positive means forpreventing the oscillating movement when the drive connection isreleased.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improvedconstruction ior devices of the character mentioned, in which theoscillating mechanism includes cooperating clutch members and novelactuating means for causing engage ment or disengagement of the clutch.I

A further object is to provide an oscillating fan or the like embodyingan improved construction of the character mentioned, in which theholding means for preventing oscillation forms a slip connection whichpermits the device to be manually swung to any desired point or settingof the arc defining its path of oscillating movement, and in which theclutch can be immediately reengaged to resume the oscillating movementwithout requiring any manual shifting of the device from such selectedpoint or setting.

The invention can be further briefly summarized as consisting in certainnovel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described andparticularly set out in the appended claims.

The oscillating device of this application is an improvement of thatdisclosed in my earlier application Ser. No. 518,933 filed January 20,1944,

. now Patent No. 2,391,964 granted January 1, 1946.

lar to Fig. 2 but showing the oscillation control means on a largerscale; and

Fig. (i is a detailed partial sectional plan view showing theoscillating linkage.

The particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawingsis in the form of an oscillating device embodying an electric fan andwhich is intended to operate either as an oscillating electric fan or asan oscillating electric fan heater. This device comprises in general ahousing it containing a fan and motor unit ii, and a support or pedestal12 upon which the housing is mounted for oscillating movement.

The housing ill is here shown in the form of a sheet metal shell of asubstantially bullet-like streamlined shape. The housing is providedadjacent the rounded rear end thereof with a plurality of air inletopenings or slots it. The forward end of the housing is open for thedelivery of air therefrom by the fan and motor unit ll.

When the device embodies an electric heating means i! for heating theair being delivered, as shown in this instance, the housing I0 isprovided with an extension l6 at its forward end in which is suitablymounted in insulated relation an elec tric heating element ll of theresistance-wire type. The housing extension I6 is preferably of a sizeand shape to form a smooth continuation of the main housing ill and maybe attached to the latter by means of the sleeve or insert It andsuitably spaced attaching screws IS. The electric heater extension l6may include an inner shell or sleeve 20 which is held in place by thebrackets 20a and is provided with spaced members 2011 for supporting theheating element H. The members 201) are of the split-stem or cotter keytype and are mounted in insulating bushings 20c. The forward end of themain housing it or of the a heater extension l6, as the case may be, isprovided with a suitable guard or grill 2i which in this instance is inthe form of a convex ornamental structure formed of wire.

The housing it may be mounted on the pedestal i 2 by providing a bracket22 on the pedestal and which pivotally supports the housing. The bracket22 is mounted on a horizontal pivot 23 provided at the upper end of thepedestal and carries a vertical pivot 24 which extends into the housingit. The bracket 22 also carries an annular seat 25 which surrounds thelower end of the pivot pin 24. The housing It is mounted on the pivot 24for oscillating or swinging movement as by means of a bushing or sleeve26 which is attached to the housing and whose lower end bears on theannular seat 25.

' 28 thereon. An arm 29 mounted on such projecting portion of the pivotpin 24 is held stationary by the flat faces 28. A link 30 has one endthereof pivotally connectedwith the arm 2! by means of the pivot pin 3|and its other end is connected with the fan and motor unit H so thatwhen pushing or pulling forces are applied to this link by the fan andmotor unit they will cause oscillation of the housing ii.

The fan and motor unit I I comprises an electric motor 33 of aconventional construction. a propeller fan 34 mounted on the forward endof the shaft 35 of the motor and an oscillating mechanism 36 operativelyconnected with the other end of the shaft of the motor. The electricmotor 38 and the oscillating mechanism 38 are more or less rigidlyconnected together by means of suitable clips 31, or the like, and theassembly uni-t formed by the fan, motor and oscillating mechanism ismounted in the housing i by means of suitable rear and side brackets 38and 39.

The oscillating mechanism 36 comprises a closed housing or gear case 4|in which is located suitable reduction gearing for connecting theelectric motor 33 with the thrust link 30. and a releasable driveconnection for controlling the operation of the oscillating mechanism.In this instance the reduction gearing comprises a worm 42 carried by arearward extension of the motor shaft 35 and which meshes with a wormgear 48 carried by a countershaft 44. The shaft 44 also carries a worm45 which meshes with a second worm gear 46 which is mounted to rotate ona second shaft 41. The shaft 41 carries a disk or crank ,48 havingthereon a crank pin 49 with which one end of the link III is pivotallyconnected. v s

The releasable drive connection for controlling the operation of theoscillating mechanism comprises a pair of clutch elements II and 52having cooperating clutch faces which are preferably provided with teethor serrations 53 as here shown. The clutch element Si is in the form ofa sleeve or extension of the worm gear 46 and is freely rotatable on theshaft 41 and is driven continuously by the electric motor 33 while thelatter is in operation.

The clutch element 52 is carried by a sleeve 55 which is rotatable withthe shaft 41 and is axially slidable thereon for engaging or disengaging the clutch element The drive connection between the sleeve 54 andthe shaft 41 may he formed by a key or splines, or as here shown, bymeans of a pin 55 extending transversely through the shaft and engagingin a slot 55 of the sleeve. The clutch element 52 is normally biasedtoward engagement with the clutch element Si by means of a compressionspring 58 disposed around the sleeve 54.

The oscillating movement of the device is normaily controlled byreleasing or engaging the clutch formed by the cooperating clutchmembers 5i and 52 and, for this purpose, an actuating member 59 isprovided having an actuating knob 8! located outside of the housing It).

The actuating member 5G is in the form of ashaft or spindle which isadapted to be rotated or oscillated by means of the knob GI and which isprovided at its inner end with an eccentric portion or pin 62. Theeccentric pin 62 cooperates with a flange or collar 63 carried by theclutch element 52. A resilient detent or finger 64 engaging in a groove55 of the actuating membe! I prevents axial shifting of the latter andalso exerts a holding action on the actuating member enabling the latterto be retained in settings corresponding with an engaged or disengagedcondition of the clutch elements II and 82.

Figs. 2 and 4 show the clutch element I2 as having been disengaged orseparated from the clutch element II and being held in such disengagedcondition by the eccentric pin 82. So long as the clutch element I2 isdisengaged from the clutch element II the gear 44 rotates idly on theshaft 41 and the oscillating mechanism will not transmit any pushing orpulling forces to the link I. and hence the housing ill will not beoscillated or swung on the pivot 24 of the mount. I

It should be explained at this point that the characteristics of thespring ll are such that when the spring is compressed by the movement ofthe clutch element 52 to its disengaged position it will exertsuflicient pressure on the disk 81 to produce the above-described dragor holding effect for the shaft 41 but when the clutch element 82 is inits engaged position the spring will exert only a light pressure on thedisk 81. Because of the large number of teeth provided on the clutchelements 52 and 53 and the angle of their side faces only a lightpressure of the spring 58 is needed for holding the clutch engaged andthis spring pressure is not sufllcient to produce an objectionable dragor braking effeet at this timebetween the disk 61 and th abutment 10.

It will be noted in connection with the clutch elements 5| and 52 thatthe teeth 53 are of relatively low height and that their side faces havea relatively low or small slope angle. These teeth are fully effective,when held in meshing engagement by the spring 68. to transmit suiilcientforce to oscillate the housing ill but if the housing strikes anobstruction the spring will yield sufficiently to permit the teeth ofthe clutch element ii to ratchet over the teeth of the clutch element52. So long as the obstruction exists this ratchet action will continueand will protect the oscillating mechanism from damage or breakage, andwhen the obstruction is removed the oscillating movement will beimmediately resumed.

During the time that the oscillating mechanism is intentionally renderedinefl'ective by disengagement of the clutch element 52 from the clutchelement 5|, it is desirable that the housing Ill be prevented fromswinging on the pivot 24 so that the housing can be set or maintained ata selected point of the oscillation path for the delivery of air in adesired direction by the fan and motor unit ii. This is accomplished byineorporating a holding means in the oscillating mechanism 36, and inthis instance, the holding means comprises a disk 81 having a lug ordetent 68 adapted to engage in a slot or recess 63 of the sleeve portion54 of the clutch element 52. The disk 61 is disposed around the shaft 41and also forms a spring plate or seat which is pressed against anannular seat or abutment 10 of the gear case 4! by the spring 58.

When the clutch element 52 is disengaged from the clutch element 5| bythe actuating member 60, as above explained, the axial movement of theclutch element 52 causes the recess 69 of the sleeve 54 to engage thelug 68 of the disk 87. The engagement of the sleeve 54 with this lugcauses the clutch element 52 to be connected with the disk '1 which thenacts as a drag or holding-means for resisting or preventing rotation ofthe shaft 41. The cooperating surfaces ,of the disk 81 and the seat orabutment III of 'the gear case ll may be of a frictional character sothat under the pressure of the spring 58 these surfaces will tend tohold the disk and the clutch element 52 against rotation. When the shaft41 is thus held against rotation, the crank pin 49 will cooperate withthe link 30 for holding the housing In against swinging on the pivot. ineither direction.

Although the disk 61 is intended to serve as a holding means for theshaft 41 during the time that the clutch elementsare disengaged. it isdesirable that this disk be capable of some slippage on the seat 10 ofthe gear case. This slip: page of the disk 61 will permit the, housingIII to be manually grasped and forciblyv swung on the pivot 24 withoutany damage being done to the oscillating mechanism. Such manual swingingof the housing is often desirable for the purpose of adjusting the samein a lateral plane so that the fan 34 will deliver its air stream in adesired direction. The frictional engagement of the disk with the seatwill cause the housing It to be held in the desired-position or setting'to which it has been forcibly swung in the manner just described.

- It will also be seen that when the actuating member 60 is rotated in adirection to permit the clutch element 52 to reengage the clutch elementBl, the drive connection for the oscillating mechanism will beestablished and the oscillating movement of the housing ID will beimmediately resumed. If the housing I 0 has been manually swung oradjusted after the clutch element 52 has been disengaged, it is notnecessary to return the housing to the position which it occupied at thetime of clutch disengagement because the clutch can be reengaged tocause immediate resumption of oscillating movement regardless of theposition occupied by the housing at the time the clutch is to bereengaged.

A suitable switch 12 is provided for controlling the electric motor 33and the heating element II. This switch is located in the housing It andmay be mounted on the gear case 4| of the oscillating mechanism, asshown in Fig. 2. An actuating means is provided for the switch in theform of a shaft 74 having a knob 75 located outside of the housing. Theswitch 12 may be a snap switch of a conventional type having fourpositions which include an off position for deenergizing both the motorand heating element, a position for energizing the motor alone, andpositions for energizing the motor simultaneously with energization ofthe heating element at either high or low heat.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings it will nowbe readily understood that the present invention provides an improvedconstruction for an oscillating electric ing within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In a device of the character described. a support, a housing pivotedon said support, an electric motor in said housing, a fan connected withsaid motor to be driven thereby, a reduction gear device in said'housingand connected with said motor to be driven thereby and including aclosed gear casing, linkage located in the housing and connected withsaid support and reduction gear device so as to cause oscillation ofsaid housing, said reduction gear device having a releasable driveconnection located in said gear casing and comprising cooperatingtoothed members one of which is shiftable to engage or disengage theother, a spring in said gear casing tending to hold the teeth of saidmembers in when movement of said housing is obstructed.

and a manually operable member projecting from said housing and alsohaving an actuating portion extending into said gear casing for causingengagement or disengagement of said toothed members.

2. In an electric fan or the like, a fan and motor unit, means mountingsaid unit for oscillating movement, oscillating mechanism driven by saidunit and including a closed gear casing containing gearing and alsohaving therein a rotatable shaft and a pair of cooperating relativelyshiftable toothed clutch elements on said shaft, one of said elementsbeing rotatable relative to said shaft and the other being rotatablewith said shaft and axially shiftable, a spring in said gear casingacting to cause engagement of said other element with said one element,and a rotatable control member having an eccentric portion extendinginto said gear casing and engageable with said axially shiftable elementfor causing disengaging movement thereof.

3. In an electric fan or the like, a fan and motor unit, means mountingsaid unit for oscillating movement, oscillating mechanism driven by saidunit and including a closed gear casing containing gearing and alsohaving therein a rotatable shaft and a pair of cooperating relativelyshiftable toothed clutch elements on said shaft, one of said elementsbeing rotatable relative to said shaft and the other being rotatablewith said shaft and axially shiftabie, holding means in said gear casingand adapted to be engaged by said other clutch element. for holdin saidunit against oscillating movement, "a spring in said gear casing actingto cause said other element to be shifted in a direction to engage saidone element: and disengage said holdin means, and a movable controlmember having a portion extending into said gear casing and engageablewith said other element for shifting the same in the opposite directionand adapted to hold said other element disengaged from said one elementand in engagement with said holda ing means.

4. In a device of the character described, a fan and motor unit, pivotmeans mounting said unit for oscillating movement, oscillating mechanismoperably connected with said unit and including a closed gear casingcontaining rotatable shaft and a pair of clutch elements, one of saidclutch elements being rotatab e relative to said shaft and the otherclutch element being rotatable with said shaft and axially shiftable, a.fixed abutment in said gear casing, a holding member engaging saidabutment, a spring in said gear casing acting to press said holdingmember against said abutment and urge said shiftable clutch elementtoward said one clutch element, and means extending into said gearcasing for actuating said shiftable clutch element so as to disenga esaid one clutch element and engage said holding memher, said abutmentand holding members providing a frictional slip connection which permitssaid unit to be manually swung on said pivot means to a desired setting.

5. In an electric fan or the like, a fan and motor unit, means mountingsaid unit for oscillating movement, oscillating mechanism driven by saidunit and including a rotatable shaft and a pair of cooperatingrelatively shiftable toothed clutch elements thereon, one of saidelements bein rotatable relative to said shaft and the other beingrotatable with said shaft and axially shiftable, holding means in saidoscillating mechanism and adapted to be engaged by said other clutchelement for holding said unit against oscillating movement, a springacting to cause said other element to be shifted in a direction toengage said one element and disengage said holding means, and a movablecontrol member having a portion engageable with said other element forshifting the same in the opposite direction and adapted to hold saidother element disengaged from said one element and in engagement withsaid holding means, said other clutch element having a sleeve portionprovided with a recess one of said clutch elements being rotatablerelative to said shaft and the other clutch element being rotatable withsaid shaft and axially shiftable, a fixed abutment, a holding memberengaging said abutment, a spring acting to press said holding memberagainst said abutment and urge said shiftable clutch element toward saidone clutch element, and means for actuating said shiftable clutchelement so as to disengage said one clutch element and engage saidholding memher, said abutment and holding members providing a slipconnection which permits said unit to be manually swung on said pivotmeans to a desired setting, said shiftable clutch element having anannular portion provided with a recess and said holding member being adisk disposed around said shaft and having a detent engageable in saidrecess.

LEE B. GREEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,125,685 Greenberg et a1 Jan.19, 1915 1,289,412 Diig Dec. 31, 1918 1,517,168 Rogers Nov. 25, 19241,688,052 Marsden Oct. 16, 1928 2.210.865 Gough Aug. 6, 1940

